I’m sure at this age you have no idea what’s about to happen. Your life is about to take a turn, not for the worst, but for the betterment of your growth as you enter young adulthood. So let me give you a few tips that will assist you in navigating this

Where do we start? Oh yes, the signs.

You know those feelings you get such as agitation, irritability and overwhelming sadness but you just can’t place them? Don’t ignore them. You might not have the resources yet to help you identify what is stirring inside but, you will, sooner than later.

Like everyone else I was pretty much diagnosed by a medical professional. They are called psychiatrists but try to register them as one of your trustees when it comes to your journey.

The first thing that went through my mind was understanding that this is a medical condition. Not a deficit, not a short circuit on your brain, but something that can and will be treated. That came with an acceptance that one wouldn’t anticipate at such an early stage. Every one’s journey is different. Depending on where you’re placed at a certain time, you can amass the help of quite a few people. Most of them being your peers who are much like you. Use and harness this advantage because no one will quite understand the complexity of what you’re going through.

And now we get to the thought process and how these lead to actions which lead to your habits. The common solution for someone who relatively has good and bad days is quick adjustment. You continue with the pace of life pre diagnosis and you build new habits. With this comes a massive understanding of the amount of physical and mental work you have to constantly put in.

Now believe it or not, you’ll eventually get into physical exercise. It reduces anxiety and assists your breathing. And then there’s the thing with books. My vice was reading. It served as a form of escape and I could imagine better worlds than the ones inhabiting my mind. The inevitability of relying on medicine will fall on your lap but don’t take too much comfort in that. Take your meds but dietary and physical wellness will always be imperative. And the bonus is: you’ll look and feel good. I think that is what any young adult aims for at the end of the day.

I also think one of the biggest obstacles you’ll have to encounter is the stigma surrounding this illness. The first thing you have to understand is that this isn’t because of any fault or flaw you think you might have. It’s the lack of educating resources that most people cannot access. So, what happens? Propaganda spreads through communities and this ends up being labeled as something that is far from what it actually is. Only you know how you feel, what your thoughts are and how you are able to tackle them. You as a human know how heightened your emotions can get and the intent behind it. You cannot allow that to define your whole identity, regardless of how many times you feel like you’re falling. The imperfections that make you worthwhile are worth another shot. So, give yourself one. Regardless of what anyone says.

Another trick when tackling stigma is knowing when to share your journey and who to share it with. People are very quick to personalize something, placing a target on you due to a lack of understanding on their part. As much as we thrive for acceptance as the BP community, it is quite out of reach. Which is why you surround yourself with other warriors who in time learn to understand you. Reaching out to this community has benefited me in more ways than one. It’s the freedom of expression and sharing your journey with people of various ages who are in different stages in life. It is essential to find safe spaces such as this one.

With this, I hope I gave you a bit of insight into what it takes to become the woman you’re destined to be. Live everyday knowing that you have more than enough strength to overcome any mental challenge, regardless of people’s projections that might fall on you. Always keep your heart pure, move with the best intentions and remember, you have this in the bag.